Military Embedded Systems

LONDON. BAE Systems selected Collins Aerospace to provide the Large Area Display technology for cockpits of future Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. BAE Systems engineers will use the ultra-high-definition Large Area Display (LAD) as part of its rapid capability development program, Project Medulla, which sees it investing in future technologies for use across its combat air portfolio, including Eurofighter Typhoon.

LONDON. Many questions on open architecture initiatives and the Department of Defense (DoD) modular open systems approach (MOSA) mandate were being floated to U.S. embedded hardware and software suppliers at DSEI in London this week. So, over dinner last night, I asked Chip Downing, Outreach Committee Co-chair of the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) Consortium and Senior Market Development Director for Aerospace and Defense at RTI, what type of open architecture strategies are being pursued by European defense departments and if the U.S initiatives like FACE influenced those efforts.

LONDON. Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Consortium members exhibiting at DSEI 2023 tell me there is considerable interest in the SOSA Technical Standard and in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) modular open systems approach (MOSA) even if there is not an official MOSA mandate like the one from the DoD.

LONDON. BAE Systems won a contract from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) to develop its Striker II Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) for the Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fleet.

I spent my first day touring the USA pavilion at DSEI 2023 in London. It’s my first time back to this massive show in four years; I saw many familiar faces and technologies from U.S. defense electronic suppliers, from connectors and signal-processing solutions to avionics boxes and rugged servers. Many companies are also showcasing and demonstrating their open-architecture designs.

LONDON. Leaders of defense organizations in Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom signed a trilateral Collaboration Agreement to deliver the concept phase requirements of a next generation combat aircraft for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).

LONDON. Ultra Intelligence & Communications (Ultra I&C) was named a supplier for the United Kingdom’s Crown Commercial Service’s Network Services 3 (NS3) Framework (RM6116) for Lot 1c – Tactical Radio Systems.

So much of our contributed content – and even our staff-written features – over the past few years have been focused on open architecture initiatives and modular open systems approach (MOSA) initiatives like the Sensor Open Sensor Systems Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard. We even produce an annual full-sized magazine on SOSA, as well as an issue covering the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE). But for the last decade our coverage has often been dominated by the twin topics of obsolescence and supply chain, both of which we cover in this issue.

Designers of test and measurement systems for military applications such as radar and electronic warfare (EW) are stepping up to use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to enable better testing of cognitive functionality. Meanwhile, modern digital architecture adoption is driving military test requirements.

QUIMPER, France. -- Interface Concept introduced the ComEth4682e, a 3U OpenVPX Ethernet switch which is 25/100Gb Ethernet capable and aligned with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Technical Standard. This switch has been developed for high-computing applications, including radar, sensor, electronic warfare, and network processing.

Modular open system approach (MOSA) strategies such as the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) Technical Standard are changing how the Department of Defense acquires technology. In this podcast with Tim Reed, Chief Executive Officer for Lynx Software Technologies, he and I discuss how MOSA benefits the warfighter and what it means to be certified conformant other the FACE Technical Standard.

SOF WEEK 2023 - TAMPA, Fla. Ryan McLean, Director of the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) Product Center, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) details the strategy for TAK 2030 with the SOF Week Show Daily team during SOF Week 2023.

SOF WEEK 2023 - TAMPA, Fla. Col. Rhea Pritchett, Program Executive Officer, PEO SOF Digital Applications (SDA), U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in an interview with the SOF Week Show Daily team discusses her requirements and how she looks to connect with industry, academia, and other government agencies to solve digital gaps.  

SOF WEEK 2023 – TAMPA, Fla. SIG SAUER acquired General Robotics, a manufacturer of lightweight remote weapon stations and tactical robotics for manned and unmanned platforms and anti-drone applications.

SOF WEEK 2023 - TAMPA, Fla. Colonel Anh H. Ha, Program Executive Officer (PEO) SOF Warrior, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) tells the SOF Week Show Daily team how technology has changed the way he operates and how his requirements match the USSOCOM Commander's, Gen. Brian Fenton's, goals of "Win, People, Transform."

SOF Week 2023 – TAMPA, Fla. Defense technology company Leonardo DRS is showcasing its range of combat proven EW [electronic warfare], EO/IR [electro-optical/infrared] and tactical radar solutions at this week's SOF Week show.

SOF WEEK 2023 - TAMPA, Fla. Geoffrey R. Downer, Director Special Programs (Aviation), U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) spoke to the SOF Week Show Daily team from Military Embedded Systems and Shephard Media about requirements, technology investment, and the importance of open architectures. 

SOF WEEK 2023 – TAMPA, Fla. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division introduced at the SOF Week show a new PacStar 400-Series tactical computing module -- developed together with software developer REDCOM Laboratories -- that aims at support of radio gateway services for modern and legacy radios. 

SOF WEEK 2023 – TAMPA, Fla. The SOF Week 2023 Wednesday keynote sessions will feature Christopher Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict - U.S. Department of Defense and Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia, will provide keynote remarks virtually.

SOF Week 2023 – TAMPA, Fla. Collins Aerospace (a Raytheon Technologies business) introduced its OXYJUMP NG oxygen-supply system for use during high-altitude parachute jumps, including those performed by Special Forces and other military personnel, at this week's SOF Week 2023 conference.